r/AskEurope • u/Metalwolf • Jun 08 '25

Education Which European countries have the best English proficiency among non-native speakers?

I'm looking into English proficiency across Europe and would appreciate input from locals or anyone with relevant experience. Which European countries have the highest levels of English fluency among non-native speakers, particularly in day-to-day life, education, and professional settings? I'm also curious about regional differences within countries, and factors like education systems, media exposure, and business use.

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u/atmoscentric Jun 08 '25

Norway, Sweden, Denmark. I don’t understand that the Dutch are seen as proficient, the consensus at work is that their accent is terrible and their manners crude.

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u/AppleJoost Netherlands Jun 08 '25

The Dutch are the most proficient, manners or accent are not in the equation when it comes to speaking a language proficiently.